San Juan Forest warns high-country roads, trails still too muddy for spring travel

Warm, dry weather in Southwest Colorado has not yet opened the San Juan National Forest’s high country. Forest officials said April 9 that many roads and trails are still muddy or snowy and should stay off-limits until the ground dries enough to hold up to spring travel.

The warning comes as the forest begins its seasonal ramp-up. Roads closed to protect elk and deer are set to open May 1, and low-elevation roads in the Columbine Ranger District also begin opening May 1. Upper-elevation and backcountry roads are expected to open June 1 or when conditions permit. Some roads are opening ahead of schedule where conditions and regulations allow, but the forest is still asking people to wait rather than cut new tracks through soft ground.

That caution is aimed at more than mud on boots. The Forest Service said wet travel can rut roads, widen trails, and speed erosion and sediment runoff. Spring thaw can make a route look ready sooner than it really is, especially when town feels dry and the mountains are still holding snow and saturated soil. Hikers, bikers, and horseback riders are being steered to lower- and mid-elevation trails, gravel roads, and paved paths that have already melted out.

The stakes are higher because the forest is still dealing with the aftermath of severe flooding on Oct. 10-13, 2025. The current-conditions update says the flood caused ongoing safety and access concerns in the Columbine and Pagosa ranger districts, with some roads and vehicle bridges severely damaged. Wilderness trail bridges on Vallecito Creek and West Fork trails were destroyed, and replacement is not expected until at least 2027. Many trails had not yet been fully assessed after the flood, and rivers and streams can still be hazardous to boaters and other users.

The forest has also tied the spring closures to long-term maintenance pressures. In a prior spring opening notice, officials said budget and resource limitations could hinder future road repairs, making every unnecessary trip onto a wet road or trail more costly for the next person. The message is simple: high country access will return, but it will return on the forest’s terms, not on the calendar in town.